“Scream 7” exceeded box office expectations this weekend, grossing $64.1 million domestically and $97.2 million globally, despite receiving largely negative reviews. The film, starring Neve Campbell, marks the best horror opening ever for Paramount Pictures and the highest February debut for a horror film, according to Paramount and Spyglass.
The opening weekend performance significantly surpassed initial projections of $44 million domestically and $60 million worldwide. Approximately $7.1 million of the global total came from IMAX screenings alone. The film’s production budget was $45 million, meaning it has already more than doubled its investment.
Neve Campbell returns as Sidney Prescott in the seventh installment of the franchise, having sat out the sixth film. The film’s release follows a period of behind-the-scenes turmoil, including the departure of Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega, and negotiations to bring Campbell back to the series, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter. Kevin Williamson, the creator of the series, also directed “Scream 7,” marking his directorial debut within the franchise.
The AP News review described the film as “an uninspired bore,” while The Hollywood Reporter noted the film had “plenty of suspense” but questioned the focus on “backstory and corporate intrigue.”
Other films in the top five domestically included “Goat” ($12 million), “Wuthering Heights” ($7 million), “Twenty One Pilots: More Than We Ever Imagined – Live in Mexico City” ($3.7 million), and “EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert” ($3.5 million). “EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert” saw a 9% increase in its second weekend.
Internationally, the Chinese racing film “Pegasus 3” performed strongly, earning $50.3 million this weekend and bringing its global total to $554.2 million. “Wuthering Heights” has now grossed $192 million worldwide, while “Goat” has earned $130.5 million globally.
